Balancing toy



Nov. 20, 1945. Y K. w. JOHNSCN BALANCING TOY Filed Feb. 16, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

Nov. 20, 1945. w. JOHNSON 2,389,365

v. BALANCING TOY Filed Feb. 16, 1945 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Patented Nov. 20, 1 945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BALANCING TOY Keith Whitaker Johnson, Washington, D. C. Application February 16, 1945, Serial No. 578,183

3 Claims.

Generally stated, the object of the present in-' vention is to provide a novel stelliform toy which, through the instrumentality of a contained, freely-rolling weight, will assume an upright position and oscillate laterally and circumferentially when placed or cast on a supporting surface, and bounce if made of resilient material.

A. mechanic who abides by what is claimed, may make such changes as his skill may direct without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings;

Figure 1 shows, in front elevation, a toy constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is a vertical section thereof.

Figure 4 is a fragmental vertical section disclosing a modification.

Figures 5 to 9 are sectional views disclosing modifications.

Figure 10 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a modification.

Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3, the stelliform' balancing toyforming the subject matter of this application comprises a central body i, from which radiates a plurality of integral outstanding, tubular arms 2, there being more than two of the arms, and preferably five, although the number of arms is not limited as to maximum. The arms 2 are shown as spaced apart at equal distances, although such a spacing is not insisted upon, and as dep cted, their longitudinal axes are disposed in a common plane, but not of necessity. The circumferential portions 3 of the'body l, which extend between the arms 2, are inwardly convexed.

In most forms of the invention, the arms 2 terminate in enlargements l, the outer surfaces 5 of which are convexed both circumferentially of the toy and transversely thereof. The enlargements i are shown as having the same con vexity at 5. Uniformity in that respect is not mandatory. The enlargements are shown in the Figure 3 as being hollow. In Figure 4, parts hereinbefore described have been designated by numerals already used, with the sufiix a. In Figure 4 the enlargements i are solid, as indicated at 6.

The toy embodies a contained weight 1 in the form of a sphere of considerable mass and preferably of metal. The internal diameter of .the arms 2 is approximately equal to the diameter of the ball I, and when the ball comes to rest in one of the enlargements &, as shown in Figure 3,

the ball will not roll, transversely or circumferentration last-above referred to is but one of the I tially of the toy, but will maintain a fixed position with respect to the arm in which it is located. Owing to the fact that the body i has the inwardly convexed circumferential portions 3', the ball I will find its way readily into any of the arms 2.

The toy may be balanced on any of the enlargements 4, with the weight I in the position shown in Figure 3, and then it may be made to oscillate, either circumferentially, as shown by the arrows in Figure 1, or laterally, as shown by the arrows in Figure 2.

The toy may be formed of any selected material. If made of resilient material it will bounce when thrown on the supporting surface S, and when it ceases to bounce it will roll or rock until it comes to rest in an upright position. If made of inelastic material, it will rock or roll and come to rest in an upright position without appreciable bouncing.

The curvature of the surfaces 5 is on a relatively long radius. Although the toy will rock on any of the surfaces 5, those surfaces tend to exert a slight checking action on the rocking. movement.

The ornamentation may be of any desired sort. In the present showing, but not of necessity, a human figure is represented crudely and conventionally. The toy may be balanced on the feet of the figure, on the arms thereof, or on the head of the figure. When balanced on one of its projections, the toy may be oscillated in arc, the projections on each side of the one on which the toy is balanced coming, alternately, into en- 4 gagem'ent with the supporting surface S to simulate the movements of a tap dancer. The illusmany possibilities of the device.

The toy comprises, generally stated, a hollow central body I, and more than two hollow arms 2, radiating from the circumference of the body,

the arms being spaced apart at distances small enough so that the toy will roll readily to cause any arm to become a supporting arm, the arms having outer end portions presenting supporting surfaces 5, which are convexed both circumferentially of the body and transversely thereof, the ball weight I being freely movable in the toy and of such diameter as to enter any of the arms.

The toy may be made of inelastic material or of resilient material, at the will of a manufacturer.

The circumference of the body includes the inwardly convexed portions 3, extended between adjoining arms 2, and constituting means for directing the ball weight I into any of the arms.

The diameter of the ball weight I approaches so closely the internal diameter of the arms 2 that the ball weight will be held against rolling movement circumferentially or laterally with respect to the toy, and relatively to any arm, when that arm is lowermost, as in Figure 3', and when .the ball weight is within and at the lower end of said arm. In that connection, two possibilities exist.

The ball I may be gripped slightly in any of the arms 2. Under such circumstances the toy must be shaken, to the end that the ball, which is of considerable mass, will be dislodged by its inertia. This construction is most readily available if the toy is made of resilient material. Again, the ball I, although fitting closely in the arm 2, may be capable of rolling freely from arm to arm when the toy is tilted sufliciently. The showing of Figure 3 is ample to lay a graphic basis for either of the last-foregoing statements. The ball 1, although freely-rolling, will not roll from arm to arm if the toy is tilted less than the critical amount.

The supporting surfaces 5 are coextensive in area with the enlargements '4, and those portions of the enlargements which extend beyond the arms may be hollow, as in Figure 3, or solid as in Figure 4.

In either the inelastic or the resilient form, the movement of the ball-weight I from one arm to another may be retarded optionally, since the arm 2a has a slight constriction 25, located inwardly of the position occupied by the ball weight when it is at the extreme outer end of the arm.

In Figure 3, the center of mass of the ball I is nearer the horizontal transverse axis ll) of the toy than is the perimeter ll of the enlargement 4 whereon the toy fulcrums when it is swung over laterally into a horizontal position, and the ball will not tend to right the toy to a vertical position.

The ball I may roll to another arm, this being facilitated if the surface S of Fig. 1 is a sloping surface.

Essentially the same results follow if the perimeter ll of the enlargement 4 is appreciably farther from the horizontal transverse axis I0 of the toy than is the center of mass of the ball I.

of mass of the ball lg is the same distance from the transverse axis log of the toy as is the perimeter Hg of the enlargement 49 whereon the toy fulcrums when it is swung over laterally into a horizontal position. The center of mass of the whole toy is nearer to the horizontal transverse axis lllg than is the center of mass of theball lg; hence, the center of mass of the whole toy 60 Referring to diagrammatic Fig. 10, the center is nearer to the horizontal transverse axis than is the perimeter 1 lg of the enlargement in whereon the toy fulcrums when it is swung over into a horizontal position, and the ball lg will not tend to right the toy to a vertical position.

In Fig. 5, parts hereinbefore described have been designated by numerals already used, with the sufllx b.

In that figure, the center of mass of the ball lb is further from the horizontal transverse axis lllb of the toy than is the perimeter Ila of the enlargement 4b whereon the toy fulcrums as it is swung over laterally into a horizontal position, and the ball will tend to right the toy to a vertical position.

In Figure 6, the enlargements 4c are shown as separate caps fixed on the outer ends of the tubular arms 20.

In Figure 7, enlargements Id, although resembling the enlargements 4c in outline, are integral with the arms 2d.

Referring to Figure 8, the enlargements at the outer ends of the arms shown in the other figures are omitted, the convexed surfaces being formed directly upon the outer ends of the arms 2c. The statement hereinbefore that the arms have outer'end portions presenting supporting surfaces which are convexed, applies to all forms.

In Figure 9, the enlargements U are hollow, cup-dike and open at their inner sides.

What is claimed:

1. A stelliform, balancing toy comprising a hollow central body, and more than two hollow arms radiating from the circumference of the body providing a body adapted to roll over a supporting surface, the arms being spaced apart at distances small enough so that any arm may become conveniently a supporting arm, the arms having outer end portions presenting supporting surfaces which are convexed both circumferentially of the toy and transversely thereof, and a ball-weight movable in the toy and of such diameter as to enter any of the arms.

2. A stelliform, balancing toy constructed as set forth in claim 1, and wherein the circumference of the body includes inwardly gradually curved portions extended between adjoining arms and constituting means for directing the ball-weight into any of the arms.

3. A stelliform, balancing toy constructed as set forth in claim 1, and wherein the diameter of the ball-weight approaches so closely the internal diameter of the arms that the ball-weight will be held against rolling movement circumferentially or transversely of the toy, and relatively to any arm, when that arm is lowermost and when the ball-weight is within and at the the lower end of said arm.

KEITH WHITAKER JOHNSON. 

